LA Galaxy

What is the change MLS is making to the calendar?

Major League Soccer is making a shift in its competition calendar, aligning the league’s schedule with the world’s top soccer leagues.
Starting in July 2027, the MLS regular season will kick off in mid-July and conclude with the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs and MLS Cup presented by Audi in late May.

Like other major international leagues, MLS will take a winter break that will see a limited number of games played in December, no games played in January, and a limited number of games played in February, very similar to our current MLS footprint.

The 2026 MLS Regular Season is unaffected.

The new calendar offers several key benefits, and is just the first announcement of Major League Soccer’s strategic sporting strategy.

Align with the FIFA International Match Calendar: Developed in consideration of the FIFA international match calendar, the new calendar will significantly reduce conflicts between MLS league matches and national team call-ups for players, particularly during summer tournaments.

Elevate the Playoffs: The new calendar offers prime placement for the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs and MLS Cup presented by Audi in May, delivering ideal timing and weather for the pinnacle of the MLS season, uninterrupted by FIFA international match windows.

Optimize the Global Transfer Market for Players: Aligning with global schedules allows MLS clubs to participate more effectively in the world’s primary transfer window, improving opportunities to acquire and transfer top talent.

Maximize Player Signings: With the majority of global player transfers occurring in the summer, participation in the most active transfer window will now enhance, rather than disrupt, a team’s ambitions for the season. With marquee players joining in the summer window, the new calendar allows MLS teams to fully acclimate summer transfers before the MLS regular season and cup competitions begin.

During the 2027 transition year, MLS will play a condensed 14-game regular season from February to April, followed by the Audi MLS Cup Playoffs and MLS Cup presented by Audi in May.
This ensures ongoing competition and determines qualification for the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup, Canadian Championship, Leagues Cup, and Concacaf Champions Cup.

Schedule modeling shows that 31 of 34 MLS matchdays (91% of regular season games) will fall within the dates of the current 2025 MLS season footprint. This means minimal adjustments for fans and players.
Schedule modeling also ensures that only a limited number of games will be played in December and February, with none in January. For those select matchdays in December and February, scheduling will maximize warm-weather markets while adhering to general scheduling principles that limit the number of consecutive road games.

Consistent with current practices, MLS will continue to create a schedule that contemplates the experience of fans, staff and players, including scheduling games earlier in the day (during daylight hours) in northern climates in the colder months, and scheduling matches later in the evening in southern climates in summer months.

Regular season play will pause in mid-December and no games will be played in January, before matches resume in early-to-mid February.
The specific length of the winter break is still being discussed with key constituents.
Importantly, following a rest period in the mid-winter break, players will have an appropriate training and preparation period prior to the resumption of regular season matches.

The calendar shift does not impact Major League Soccer’s commitment to national and international Cup competitions.
MLS will coordinate with the organizing committees of each tournament to ensure scheduling alignment.